12 Holiday Life Hacks That Will (Jingle Bell) Rock Your World This Season

The countdown to Christmas is on—and, if you're anything like us, you're right in the thick of it ('it' being gift-buying and party planning, of course). Whether you're picking out last-minute presents, tracking travel arrangements, or mastering the perfect holiday party selfie, we have a round-up of sites, apps, and other gotta-know-hacks to ensure your festive season goes off without a hitch. Bonus? Most of these can be used during the rest of the year, too!

Shyp. This site makes holiday gift sending easy—and we seriously mean super easy. The service takes the pain out of shipping anything, anywhere: Simply snap a photo of the item (no live animals please!), enter the destination, and choose a shipping speed. Within 20 minutes, a Shyp Hero courier will be at your door to pick up, personally package your gift, and send it off to its lucky recipient, lickety split. Belated gifting begone!

LuMee. Not to get all philosophical but… If you don't snap the most amazing holiday party selfie, did the gathering ever really exist? This is the eternal question for all Instagram addicts (not to mention Phil 101 students). Thankfully for us, LuMee's light-up case—with LED technology—ensures that every photo you take will be picture-perfectly documented. Oh, and did we mention it also protects your phone? Best. Hack. Ever.

P-Touch. Whether you're making bespoke wrapping paper and gift cards or personalizing table settings for your festive fête, Brother's P-Touch Label Maker will come in handier than you ever thought possible. (You can also make magnets. We'll leave it at that.)

MySaleSpy. Looking for the best deal during shopping season? Obviously. Allow us this plug-in to help. Sign up on site to download the SPY button onto your browser: It displays as an add-on that will allows you save your favorite items and keep a watchful eye on them until they go on sale. The days of overpaying are over. Just keep an eye out on stuff that has limited stock—you might want to just snag that outright!

Packed Party. This is everything you need for an uh-mazing holiday party—in one neat (and chic!) box. Whether your buds unwrap it to find handpicked, themed invitations to your event or a thoughtful holiday care package, these all-in-one surprises will let you and your BFFAEs celebrate together no matter where you are on the globe.

Swiss Tees. Don't know what to get, um, anyone on your list? Been there. Luckily, the amazing Swiss Tees customizable shirt service has got you covered. We first discovered the brilliant concept when a friend's sister asked for a 'Cara Delevingne' tee. His solution? Type the model's name on the shirt, place an order, ship it anywhere in the world, and then wait for the thank-you's to come pouring in. You're welcome.

FlightView. Some of the most stressful parts of the holidays? Anything to do with planes, trains, or automobiles. But this (free!) app lets you to track incoming and in-air flights, as well as look at gate assignments, delays, and cancellations. You can even monitor a plane's progress via an interactive map. Why sweat it? Travel smart instead.

Inkly Cards. Send a Christmas card with a special handwritten touch using this genius app-of-the-future aka the RIGHT NOW. Here's how it works: Write your greeting on a piece of paper, snap a pic, and Inkly will magically transfer the message onto the inside of your fully customizable virtual greeting card. Did we mention it's free? Fabulous.

Red Laser. Anyone who has ever browsed in stores only to wonder if you're really getting the best holiday deal, this app is for you. Scan a barcode with your phone to see comparable prices at nearby locations. No barcode? No problem: You can also manually search for the product in question to find the lowest possible price. And we're sure you'll be glad to have the extra cash come post-holiday season sales!

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Zazzle. Track down awesome one-of-a-kind presents, create custom photo-gifts, or even have your fave BFF inside jokes inked on a mug—yep, Zazzle can do all that and more. Our most obsessed-over option on the site? Customizable phone cases that you can add color, photos, and text to.

Lyft. After your holiday party, why not request a pick-up from a background-checked driver in your community instead of shelling out for a taxi? Lyft will pick you up in a comfy car and you can pay with your phone. You may even make a new friend in the process (seriously, we have yet to meet a less-than-amazing person behind the wheel). Uber is so 2014.

Combatant Gentleman. Inviting your boo to a family gathering for the first time, or spending New Year's Eve together with a big night out? Make sure your dude has the best duds with the help of this e-commerce site with a twist. You'll enter height, weight, waist measurement and other crucial sizing info to determine his perfect fit—limited tailoring needed—for just about any clothing item. Who knows? He might end up loving the wares, leaving you with a seriously dapper beau come 2015. Now that's the recipe for a happy New Year.

There is no such thing as too many holiday life hacks. Share yours with other readers in the comments section below!